TR Massanutten January 2013

[Ski Bunny]

Looks like a great weekend of skiing

[marzski]

@skipink 286001 wrote:Nice TR Marz. You going to the SS Summit?



Nope, can't make SS this year. Have a direct conflict on March 2. Plus we've been gone a lot of weekends already. Marz Jr. has projects for school to deal with in Feb and March.

[marzski]

Thanks for checking out my TRs. Heading back to Mnut tomorrow. Just me for a couple days since the condo is good until Fri. Going to do another Senior Clinic on Thursday. Hoping it doesn't rain too hard on the mountain Wed night.

[marzski]

Made it to Mnut just before the first squall line hit the area around 5:30pm. Heavy rain for the last five miles and the next 15-20 min.



The slopes closed at 4:30pm. Decision was made early not to have any night skiing.



We'll see what's left tomorrow morning. Southern Comfort and Geronimo were brown on the side farther away from the fixed snow guns this morning after two days of uber-warm temps.

[davidski]

Hey Marzski -- it looks good. I still have never been to the Mass, even though I used to go to WG a lot. During a period when it is completely open, I really must make that trip, clearly nice terrain relative to the SE

[BaZinGa]

@davidski 286098 wrote:Hey Marzski -- it looks good. I still have never been to the Mass, even though I used to go to WG a lot. During a period when it is completely open, I really must make that trip, clearly nice terrain relative to the SE



It's a fun hill when open 100%. I still like WG better though. Mnut is fun at night with 100% lighted trails.

[marzski]

@BaZinGa 286102 wrote:It's a fun hill when open 100%. I still like WG better though. Mnut is fun at night with 100% lighted trails.



I agree that the Highlands are better, but only mid-week. On weekends I have no patience for the lift lines at WG. Would much rather lap Lift 6 at Mnut.



Have also discovered a bonus that I'm going to take full advantage of in the future. The Senior Clinic (over 50) is taught by a very experienced PSIA Level 3 instructor. One of the instructors who teaches the instructors at Mnut. Have been watching him from Lift 5 for several years. 2 hours, $30, on Sunday and Thursday afternoons. When no one else shows up . . . a great way to have a private lesson.



Turns out that Mnut has several Level 2 and several Level 3 instructors, plus an Examiner. I've always known that the ski school was very good. Recently I've learned more about PSIA certification, so have a better understanding of why Marz Jr. has had such good instructors over the years for the 90-min clinic.

[marzski]

@davidski 286098 wrote:Hey Marzski -- it looks good. I still have never been to the Mass, even though I used to go to WG a lot. During a period when it is completely open, I really must make that trip, clearly nice terrain relative to the SE



I'll let you know when I have an empty room mid-week so you can check out Mnut for cheap during a night session. Can always use some gas money as often as I'm driving up here.

[marzski]

Storm blew through overnight. Moon was out when I happened to wake up at 5:30am. It's 11:30am and 32 degrees at the base. Snowguns were on at the top of DJ and Paradice when lift started at 9:00. By 10:00, there were guns on all over the place, including Geronimo near the lodge. Clearly some of the guns that started up mid-morning are the ones that are automated now.



The groomers worked hard to make sure every trail had at least a WROD. The only areas closed are the terrain parks. Paradice and DJ were frozen groomed with snow blown on top, but only tiny icy patches. Top of Showtime was less fun that Paradice. For once, Mainstreet was better than Upper Showtime. Clearly built a solid base last week since Mainstreet and Yee Ha were fine even after the hot temps and heavy rain.

[marzski]

More and more snow guns came on as the day continued to be cold. With the wind chill, it was 16 degrees around 4:30pm. By then I called it a day. The new manmade snow was heavy because the humidity is still quite high. There were a few natural flakes coming from the clouds as I drove from the parking lot. Not expecting any noticeable accumulation though.



The 2-hour Senior Clinic included someone else this time. He's a 66yo trying to figure out shaped skis. His technique was probably not that great on straight skis. Was starting to get better towards the end of the clinic. At this point, I'm happy to learn more basic drills. Want to have solid technique down before heading west in March. Only had one lesson as an adult before 2010. I was already into taking lessons in recent years. Started with a great multi-day clinic in north Tahoe, but have even more interest now as a way to decrease the chance of messing up my ACL-less knee. Sticking to groomers is not happening at Alta and any other flying destinations.